~Manipulation~

24 // Techno's Arrival

The next morning, Tommy refused to get up. Wilbur came in multiple times yet the blonde refused to move - he was in too much pain. Everything as hurting to the extend where he could barely think. Any thoughts he did have were plagued with the terrors of the evening before.

"Kid, get up." Wilbur was getting exasperated now.

"It all hurts," Tommy whined into his pillow.

Wilbur sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "well, whose fault do you think that is, then!?"

"Yo-"

"And don't you dare say yours cause you know fully well if you'd just obeyed my simple rules, you wouldn't even be in this position." Tommy stayed quiet. "Right, get up."

"Nooo..."

"I'm not asking."

"I'm not answering," Tommy replied with just as much sass.

"Ok, child get up right now or I'm making things a lot harder for you." Tommy begrudgingly got up, before stumbling around and almost collapsing. Almost, being because Wilbur rushed to catch him. "Careful there, you don't want to make too much sound. You don't want the others getting suspicious."

Tommy pushed Wilbur away and limped towards the door, but Wilbur pulled him back and threw some clothes at him. "Try to look at least somewhat presentable and get downstairs; Techno should be arriving soon." Tommy nodded and Wilbur left the room.

Ten minutes later Tommy was limping down the stairs looking at least decently presentable. He reached the living room before promptly collapsing onto the sofa. Phil sent him a quizzical glance before making his way over.

"You good there mate?"

"Tired."

"You are that's all? You look... not quite yourself."

"I'm just-"

"Tommy! Good to see you downstairs finally!" Wilbur interrupted him, "you want breakfast? Well, I suppose it would be brunch now."

"Not hungry." Tommy's answer seemed to satisfy Wilbur... it didn't satisfy Phil.

"You sure? Eating something might be good for you." Phil couldn't help but think back to last night's dinner. Tommy seemed reluctant to eat then and he was refusing to eat now... Phil was beginning to worry for the child.

"I'm sure he's just excited for Techno's arrival, right?" Wilbur said the last word with a strong undertone of threat as he came to sit next to Tommy.

"Yeah! It's The Blade! The one! The only! Technooooo!" Tommy gave jazz hands at this, and as if on queue, Tubbo came crashing downstairs, throwing confetti everywhere. Phil laughed and went to help Tubbo up while Wilbur went to get the vacuum cleaner.

A few hours later there was a was a knock at the door, a moment of silence while the four boys looked at each other, before a race for the bragging rights of being the first to see Techno. Tubbo won and threw open the door before tackling Techno into a hug.

"So great to see you mate!" Phil said as he ruffled his hair.

"You too, now get off me nerds I gotta unpack," Techno said as he waded through the herd of excited streamers and disappeared upstairs. After a few moments, Phil realised Techno had no idea where he was going and ran up the stairs to join him.